[Mr 5 0]

Originally Posted by CupCake

Man, I sure wish things were like that here in NC. But insurance laws are crappy. My insurance company is not covering for anything. I have tried contacting them and there is no help there. It is amazing we pay them so much money for nothing.

I no longer work for an insurance company but I did, once, and I want to point out that your comment is based on a mistaken premise that many folks seem to share.

While in force, your auto insurance policy covers you for any financial liability you might incur in an accident that you are responsible for. The level of that coverage depends on the choices you made when selecting the policy limits. In many cases, depending on what coverages you decided to take - and pay for - your car will be covered if it is damaged or wrecked beyond repair in a collision that you caused. This frees you from having to pay off a car loan on a car you can't drive. Your auto policy can also cover your vehicle for damages such as vandalism, equipment theft (usually stereos) and even other things that would otherwise cost you a lot of money to repair or replace. It's called comprehensive coverage and it's relatively cheap to buy. You can even get towing coverage on your auto insurance policy. Often for less than the cost of one tow.

My point is that the auto insurance you pay for each year or every six months, depending on your renewal terms, is not 'for nothing'. While the policy is in force, you are financially protected (24/7) to the extent your policy states, depending on what you elected for your liability coverage limits. That is what you pay for. Protection.

Now, some states (like mine) also provide policies that allow you to file a damage claim on your policy's collision coverage, have your car repaired or replaced as needed and your insurance company sues the other (at-fault) driver's insurance for their reimbursement. It's basically 'invisible' to you and saves you waiting for months (or longer) for another driver's insurance company to pay you for your loss.

While most auto insurance policies have so-called 'medical' coverage, which is supposed to pay - up to the policy limits, usually $10,000. - for medical treatments someone like you may incur due to the actions of another driver that caused a crash, apparently that is not the case in your situation as you stated that your initial claim was flatly rejected.

I have contacted a lawyer and they are researching the information that I gave them so I don't know how long that is going to take. We will see.

These things move slowly, so you have to be patient. Realize that once the insurance company is notified that you have engaged an attorney, no claim adjuster can speak to you, only someone from the insurance company legal department, usually a lawyer, who will usually prefer to speak to your attorney, not you. Thats been my experience and I would think it applies in any state. You'll soon find out.

When I talked to the insurance adjuster and said something about the state comissioner, she pretty much laughed at me and said nothing was going to grt done if I called them. That basically they will get a complaint of somebody that is not happy and that is it. I don't know if that is true or not. I guess we will see about that too.

She was trying to intimidate you and keep you from contacting the Commissioners office, or else why would she try to dissuade you? Ignore her and file your complaint - in writing - not by telephone or even e-mail. Letters get more attention. Give all the pertinent facts (policy numbers, dates, etc) and don't let it get too long. You will get results, despite what some insurance company adjuster tells you. A big part of their job is to find reasons to not pay anything on a claim from a victim of one of their policyholders. That would be you.

Thanks to all of you guys for replying. Just let me know any information that you might have or find out. I will keep you posted. )

Hope we've been able to help, even at long-distance. Keep your spirits up!